Clarifier and thickener



March 12; 1929. H. G. SCHWARZ 1,704,993

CLARIFIER AND THICKENER fi l d Ilargh 23/1926 Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED, STATES HENRY G. SGHWARZ, or DENVER, COLORADO.

CLARIFIER AND THICKENER. I

Application filed March 23, 1926. Serial No. 96,712.

This invention relates to clarifiers and thickeners for use in the separation of solids from liquids in liquid suspensions, and 1ts primary object is to provide an apparatus of simple construction in which a clean separation of solids from liquid is effected by a settling action without the use of scrapers, rakes or othermechanical devices.

-My invention is particularly adapted for use in sugar production to remove sugar lime from the waste waters obtained in the Stefl'ens molasses desugarizing process, or to separate the 2 sugar juices from the llme sludge in the lime carbonate liquids of the carbonation system; and it has been demonstrated to provide an economical and hlghly efllcient substitute for filter presses and mechanical thickeners heretofore used for the same purpose.

My invention is furthermore adapted for separating the clear sugar juice from limed pineapple juice or it may be used for clarifying cane juices, metallurgical slimes and any other material of similar nature.

My improved clarifier is distinguishedby the production of an overflow of sparkling clearness, and it has in addition to a minimum cost of operation, the advantages-of economical installation, small proportions in comparison with capacity, requiring smaller floor space than other apparatus used for the same purpose,'and the elimination of expert attention required in all devices ,of similar type in which power driven mecha nisms are employed for the separation of the thickened product.

A further aim of the invention resides in providing a clarification or thickening apparatus of the above described character which by simple variations in the proportions and angular arrangement of its parts ma be readily adapted for each particular prolblem, and still other objects of the invention reside in details of construction and combinations of parts as will fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings in which like character's of reference designate corresponding parts through the views;

Figure 1, represents a section through the device taken in a central vertical plane, and

Figure 2, an end-view partially in section, taken on the line 2-2, Figure 1.

Referring further to the drawings, the apparatus consists of a. tank 5 having inclined sides terminating in one or more outlets at itsbottom, an overflow for clear liquid near the top of one of its sides, and an inlet for material at an opposite side below the 1 liquid level determined by the overflow.

It is desirable in the operation of the apparatus that the sides of the tank have a comparatively steep angle of inclination and in order to maintain this angle without reduction in the necessarily extensive length of flow line between the intake and the overflow and without the necessity of erecting the tank to an excessive height, I have divided the bottom portion of the tank into two compartments 6 of funnel shape, each having an outlet 7 at its apex.

The space of the tank above the compartments is divided by longitudinally extending verticalbafile-plates 8 the principal function of which is to counteract turbulence of the inflowing material and promote an equable movement thereof to the point of overflow. I The tank is covered by a top plate 9 which may be slightly inclined from the intake side to the side of overflow-discharge for the main purpose of preventing obstruction to the flow of liquid by possible accumulation of scum or fibers.

In the middle of the top-plate is a dome 1O closed by means of a removable lid 12, through which scum may'be'removed from the surface of the liquid and by which access can be had to the interior of the tank.

The overflow outlets 13 of the tank open 16, passes across the partition 15.

The material entering the tank through an opening 21 in its top plate to which it is conducted by a pipe 22, is compelled to follow the inclination of the adjacent side of the tank, to a point at a distance belowthe liquid level determined by the overflow, by a vertical transverse weir' 23 having a plurality of outlets 24, andthereby directs the solids in suspension toward the bottom of the tank. The liquid and finer solids travel I horizontally toward the outlet 13, the heavier than liquid solids settling gradually and the lighter solids and scum going to the top. The discharge of thickene matter from the outlets 7 in the bottom of the tank, is controlled by manually adjusted valves 25.

In the operation of the apparatus, the material enters the tank through the inlets 24: at adownwardly directed angle and is forced to flow through the length of, the tank at a velocity and under a pressure determined by the head of the feed, the openings in the discharge valves and other circumstanccs. It is preferred to regulate the feed so that the tank is filled to its top plate at all times, whereby to maintain the material in the tank under slight pressure and prevent agitation.

The downward inclination of the feed as it enters the tank, produces an initial quick separation of the heavier solids in suspension and during the following slow movement of the liquid to the point of overflow all other solids heavier than the liquid settle gradually to the bottom of the tank while those lighter than the liquid rise to the surface in the form of a scum and are separated from the liquid either in the dome 10 or the compartment 17 of the receiving box 1 1.

The settling solids collected in the lower portions of the cone shaped compartments of the tank are discharged in liquid, through the outlets 7, the discharge being regulated and controlled by proper adjustment of the valves 25.

It will thus be apparent that the separation of the solids from the liquid is obtained automatically, subject to a continuous feed and overflow, without the use of mechanical appliances and without the expert attention required in other apparatus heretofore employed for similar purposes.

By shortening or lengthening the zone of the line of flow, determined by the length of the tank between its points of intake and overflow, the apparatus may be constructed to meet practically any problem requiring a clean separation of liquids and solidsin liquid suspensions.

The battle plates dividing the flow zone in the upper portion of the tank into several compartments each having its separate intake opening and its separate overflow outlet, are instrumental in producing a slow and equable flow of liquid through the zone and the box 14; which may be correspondingly divided by partitions 26, separates ling the outlets in the bottom of the tank,

determines the grade of density of the sludge, which in practice, is preferably continuously conducted and, if necessary, may be accelerated by the use of pumps or spigots.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tank with sides sloping to an outlet in its lower portion, having at opposite ends of a flow line in its upper portion an overflow and a feed intake, and having .an inclined surface above the flow line, and a dome on said surface and between the intake and overflow for the removal of supernatant matter.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank with sides sloping to an outlet in its bottom portion, having at opposite ends of a flow line in its upper portion, an overflow and a feed intake, a receiver connected with the overflow, a chamber separate from the receiver, and a partition between the receiver and the chamber providing an overflow for supernatant material, said receiver having an outlet for the discharge of clear liquid.

3. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank, partitions dividing the upper portion of the tank into unobstructed flow lines, the tank having a settling chamber below the flow lines, disposed to receive matter settling from the flow lines, each flow line having an overflow and a feed intake at opposite endsthereof, the intakes being entirely below the tops of the partitions.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HENRY G. SCHWARZ. 

